Researchers have found yet another reason to protect coral reefs: The intricate ecosystems also function as a barrier against rising ocean waters and damage from waves.
Published on May 13 in the journal Nature Communications, a new project examined 27 previous studies of coral reefs worldwide, with the research team finding that the structures subdue the energy of waves by an average of 97 percent.
"It's obvious to the eye that waves inside a protected lagoon are much mellower than those crashing on the outer reef crest, but the extent and generality of the energy dissipation revealed by the data analysis for different locations and reef settings was surprising," study co-author Fiorenza Micheli, a professor of biological sciences at Stanford and Stanford's Hopkins Marine Station, said in a school news release. "It is a huge reduction. The majority of wave energy is lost on the reef crest."
Besides providing a habitat for ocean creatures and improving water quality, coral reefs shield at least 100 million people from rising ocean levels and protect against land erosion, according to the study.
Restoring coral reefs could be a less expensive and more long-term alternative to constructing breakwater barriers. According to the study, the median cost for building artificial breakwaters is $19,791 for about three feet, compared with $1,290 for a project to restore a stretch of coral reef of the same length.
After being restored, reefs will continue to grow and mitigate increases in sea levels while offering other perks.
"Reef restoration can also provide additional benefits," Micheli said in the news release. "While reducing risk, coral reefs also support biodiversity, improve water quality, and support fisheries and tourism."
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